Sewing-machine.



w. TIE ROBERTS.

SEWING MACHINE APPL CATION FILED MAR. 19. I915 D Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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w. T. B. ROBERTS. SEWING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1915- v Patented Apr; 30, 1918.

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earns ienrnnr WILLIAM THOMAS BU'GKINGHAM ROBERTS, OF LIlIlICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. I

SEWING-MACHINE.

mum

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 30, rare.

Application filed Il /[arch 19, 1915. Serial No. 15,521.

To all whom it-may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. B. Ronnnrs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented certain new and useful improvements in gewing-li lachines;

and I do hereby'declare the followinjrto be a full, clear, and exact description of the inyention, suchas will enable. others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the-same;

The invention relates to sewing machines used in themanufacture or boots and shoes, and particularly concerns tack pulling devices applicable for use in such machines.

As is well known by those skilled in the art, it is usual in lasted shoes to secure the ,shoe upper to the insole and last by tacks partially driven into the last. In subsequent operations, such, for example, as attaching the welt to the lasted shoe, these tacks often cause trouble as by contacting with the sewing needle or for other reasons, and it is therefore desirable to remove some or all of the lasting tacks prior to performin further operations upon the shoe.

manufacture of boots and shoes with an improved tack pulling'dcvice which is actuated yieldingly-when moved toward the tack, and positively when withdrawing the tack from the work, while another object of: the invention is to arrange that such a tack pulling device may be rendered operativeor in operative at will without interrupting the normal operation of the machine, whereby the operator can remove such tacks as he.

may deem desirable for the proper performance of the sewlng or other operation on the work.

With these objects in view, a feature of the invention is for 'a sewing machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes,

the combination with the tack pulling de vice of mechanism for actuating the tack ulling tool in a closed path in such a man ner that the tool can yield toward the middle of its path, but ispositively or unyieldit is an object of the present invention to providea sewing machine for use 1D the ingly actuated ina direction at right angles thereto, that is tangentially of its path.

Preferably, and accordingto another feature of the invention, a tack pulling tool is combined with mechanism under the control of the operator by which the said'tool during the sewing or other operation of the machine may be thrown into or out of op eratlon.

The arrangement of the yielding actua tion of the tack puller avoids the liability of damage to the workthat has been found in practice to exist when a part of the shoe" for any reason projects into the normal operative path of the tack pulling tool by which there is a possibility of damage by reason of the factthat the tool digs into the shoe, cutting or otherwise injuring the leather; The yielding operation of the tack pulling tool, according to this invention, insures that it will slide over the surface of the work should. it happen to come in contact therewith. j

According to another -feature of the invention, the arrangement is such that the tack pulling tool whenthrown out of operation will. stop with certainty in a position out of contact with the work, so that the tool will offer no obstruction to the manipulation of the shoe in the normal operlition of the machine.

Preferably, and as hereinafter described, the arrangement according to a feature of the invention comprises a member which is using the controlling means or predetermined by the employment of adjustable limiting devices. Preferably the .said member may consist of a bar pivoted Within a slot in a shaft and acted upon by springs so arranged that the tack pulling tool will be yieldingly actuated by that component of the thrust of the bar upon the tool which lies in the direction of the springs and positively actuated by the component of the thrust which lies transversely to the slot in the shaft.

A preferred construction, according to the present invention, will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings. The invention as herein described and illustrated is embodied in the well-known Goodyear welt and turn shoe sewing machine, which is disclosed with substantial accuracy in the specification of the patent to Eppler, No. 1,108,560, dated August 25, 1914. It is to be understood, however, that the specific example hereinafter described as a preferred embodiment is capable of modification as regards its construction and the arrangement of the several parts of the same, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of part of the said shoe sewing machine, showing a tack pulling tool and operating mechanism therefor, according to the preferred embodiment of this invention;

'Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with portions broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section corresponding in point of view with the front elevation, Fig. 2;

.Fig. 4 is a view showing in detail the tack pulling tool; and v Fig. 5 is .a transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in all the figures.

The sewing machine illustrated in the drawings is provided with the usual stitch forming devices, including the curved needle 10, the awl or feed point 12, channel guide 14, back gage .16, and back rest or bunter 18. Reference is hereby made to the above mentioned patent for a detailed description of'the construction and operation of the machine, since only enough of the machine has been illustrated to show the association of the tack pulling device therewith.

. In the preferred construction the tack pulling device is carried in a bracket 20 which is secured to or formed as part of the frame 22, the said bracket being situated in front of the machine beneath the sewing instrumentalitios, and the device is arranged to be thrown into operation by movement of a lever (not shown) actuated by the knee of the operator. The device comprises a tack pulling tool 24 that operates to Withdraw the lasting tacks from a. lasted shoe in advance of the action of the needle in the sewing operation. As is usual in tack pulling devices the tool 24 when in operation is given movement inwhat is approximately an elliptical path, and acts to dig beneath the head of a tack and engage the shank thereof to eject the tack from the work, the acting end of the tool being chisel-shaped in order to more readily dig beneath the head of a tack that may have been driven further than usual into th work. The tack pulling tool 24 is provided with a screw threaded shank portion 26 (see Fig. 4) that is adjustably secured by means of a nut 28 in one end of a bar 30, the other end of which is received in a recess in the enlarged end or head 32 of a slide 34 that is reciprocated and oscillated by means presently to be described. The bar 30 is capable of longitudinal adjustment in the said recess and is secured in adjusted position by means of a screw 36 threaded in the head 32. By means of these adjustments the tool 24 may be set to engage 'accurately beneath the heads of the tacks.

The head 32 of the slide has a slot 38 in which is received a roll 40 which serves as a guide to the movements of the slide 34. The end of the slide opposite to the tool is cup-shaped to receive a ball 42 secured upon a stud 44 that is screwed into the end of a bar 46 pivoted at 48 in the slot or recess 50 in a shaft 52. A plug 54 whose inner end 'is also cup-shaped is screwed into the lower end of the slide 34 and serves to retain the ball 42 in position. This construction constitutes a universal joint connection between the pivoted bar 46 and the slide 34. The shaft is surrounded by a fixed collar clamped in a bearing on the bracket 20, and the shaft 52 can be rotated through the pulley 56 from any suitable source of power. The bar 46 is pivoted to the shaft 52 by means of a pin 48 passing through the axis of the shaft and at right angles thereto. Normally the bar 46 is held in axial alineinent with the shaft by means to be described, so that the ball 42 revolves about an axis passing through its center and consequently imparts no movement to the slide and the tack ulling tool carried thereby. If, however, the ball 42 moved so as to be eccentric to the shaft, the ball 42 acts virtually as the pin of a crank and in cooperation the slot 38 and roller 40 impart oscillating and reciprocating movements to the slide 34, which movements cause the tool 24 to travel in an approximately elliptical path 58, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The arrangement and position of the parts thus far described are such that when the ball 42 is in its centhrow the tack pulling tool 24 into operation will now be describedv To the end of the stud 4H carrying the ball 42 issecured a second ball. which engages a conical.

recess 62 formed in a sliding shaft 64:, the

v axis of the recess 62 being in line with the axis of the rotatingshaft 52. Seated in the pivoted bar d6 are coiled springs (56 which engage the bottom of the slot or recess 50 in the rotating shaft and tend toturn the bar 46 about its pivot 4:8,pressing the ball (30 against the surface of the conical recess This recess ends in a cylindrical hole (53 concentric with the axis of the shaft (H- and of the same or slightly larger diameter than the ball (50, so that when the sliding shaft 6- is shifted in one direction the ball. (30 enters the hole 68 and the bar it) and ball 42 revolve about their own axes concentrically With the rotating shaft 52. Vi hen the sliding shaft (34 is shifted in the opposite direction the ball 42 leaves the hole 68 and engages the wall of the conical. recess 62, being pressed against the said wall by the coil springs 66, and, as will. now be described, the ball i2 describes a circular path about the axis of the shaft 52 and imparts movement to the slide 3s and tool 24. The reater the amount of shift of the sliding shaft 64, the,

larger will be the circle described by the ball 42, and consequently the greater the amount of movement of the tool 24, so that l the amplitude of the path of the tool may be 'varied according to the amount of shift in1- parted to the sliding shaft 64:.

From the fact that the ball is spring pressed against the wall of the conical recess (32 it will be understood'that the tack pulling tool 24 is operated in a manner such that it can always yield toward the middle of its path. lhis yielding quality is of particular advantage 1n that should the under side is rotated to bring the tack pulling tool be-' heath the head of the tack, the spring 66 will no longer be opflrative, the bar 46 hearing on the sides of the recess, and the thrust of the tack against the tool being taken up by the pivot 48. The tool will thus give a positive unyielding pull to the tuck in the direction. of its movement in withdrawing the tack from the work.

The sliding shaft ()4- is carried in a bearing on the bracket 20 and is shifted longitudinally by means of a link 70 connecting a pm 72 passing through a slot in the Slldlllg shaft 64: with an arm Tet extending laterally from a vertical rockshaft 76. The rock shaft 76 is provided with a knee lever (not shown), so that the operator can shift the sliding shaft 6st and thereby throw the tack pulling tool into or out of action at will without interrupting the sewing operation. The sliding shaft 6% carries a pin 78 that en tends through a slot in the bearing, the pin i 78 serving to limit the amount of movement imparted to the sliding shaft by abuttin against adjustable stop screws'80 carried in lugs 82 formed on the bearing As will be understood, it is possible with the construction described for a skilled operator to adjust the path of movement of the tack pulling tool during the operation of the device as he may deem necessary or desirable by n'lerely shifting the position of the knee lever and thus causing the ball 42 to engage a different portion of the conical recess ("32 in the sliding shaft Get. By adjusting one of the stop screws 80 the maximum amplitude of the path of movement of the tool 24 may be varied in accordance with the Work to be operated upon.

The roll all) that serves as a guide for the tool operating slide 34 is mounted upon a spindle 84: carried in. two limbs of a tilting frame 86 that is clamped by means of a bolt 88 upon the collar 55 previously mentioned, the said limbs serving as lateral guides for-the slide-34. By loosening the clamping bolt 88 the frame 86 may be turned about the collar 54 and the slide and tool swung downward away from the work when it is not desired to make use of the tack pulling tool. An adjustable stop screw 9,0 held in a laterally projecting lug of the tilting frame is adapted to abut against the frame 22 of the machine, and serves to position th tilting frame 86 so that the toolis correctly placed with regard to the work when the device is again required to be made use of.

The nature and scope of the present invention having been indicated, and the preferred embodiment of the invention having been specifically described, what is claimed as new is 1. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling devic associated therewith, and means under the control of the operator for bring- Cir ' device including a tack pulling too associated therewith, means for operating the tool-in a closed path adjacent the work, and

I means permitting yielding movement of the tool toward the center of its path while maintaining its operative connection to its operating means.

3. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, means for operating the tool in a closed path adjacent the work, means acting continuously to exert positive pressure on said tool tangentially to the path, and means to allow the tool to yield toward the center of its path.

i. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, means for operating said tool, and means for adjusting said operating means to vary the path of movement of the tool.

5. A sewing machine, having, in combination,'stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, means for moving the tool relatively to the work, and means under the control of the operator for varying the path of movement of the tool during the sewing operation.

6. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, means for operating said tool, means for adjusting said tool with relation to the work, and means for adjusting the operating means to vary the motion imparted to th tool.

7. A sewing machine, having, in combina tion, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, a continuously rotatable shaft for operating thetool, and means to set the tool in operative position above the work and to withdraw it to inoperative position away from the work while the shaft continues to rotate.

8. A sewing machine, having, in combina tion, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, a rotatable shaft for operating said tool, means to set said shaft to place the tool in operative position upon the work and to set said shaft so that the tool will be in inoperative position and away from the work.

9. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pullim tool asso ciated therewith. a continuous y rotatable shaft for operating IllO tool. means to set said shaft to hold said tool in an inoperative position, and means to set said shaft. to move the tool in. a fixed path in an operative position upon the work.

10. A sewing machine, having. in combination. stitch forming devices. a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, a rotating shaft for operating the tool, connections between said shaft and tool, and means to set said shaft so that the tool remains stationary at one setting of the shaft and moves in a fixed path at other settings of the shaft.

l1. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming deviccs..a tack pulling device including a tack pulling tool associated therewith, a rotating shaft for operating the tool, connections between said shaft and tool, means to set said shaft so that the tool remains stationary at one set ting of the shaft and moves in a fixed path at other settings of: the shaft, and means to set the shaft while it continues to rotate.

12. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device including a tack pulling'tool, a rotutable' shaft for operating the tool, means to set the shaft to vary the movement of the tool, and mechanism for controlling the movement of the setting means.

13. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a tack pulling device associated therewith, a rotatable shaft for operating said device, a bar pivotally mounted in said shaft connected with said device, and means for setting said bar whereby said connection will be axially arranged with relation to the shaft, so that no motion is imparted to the device or to set the bar whereby said connection will be eccentric-ally arranged with relation to the shaft so that motion is imparted to the device. I

14. A sowingmachine,having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling tool associated therewith, a rotatable shaft for operating said devices, a bar pivotally mounted in said shaft and connected with said device, means to set the bar to rotate eccentric-ally with relation to the shaft. and yielding means between the bar and shaft whereby said bar may yield toward an axial alinement with respect to the said shaft while rotating eccentrically.

15. A sewing machine, having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a tack pulling device associated therewith, a shaft for operating said device, a bar pivoted in said shaft having a swivel connection with said device, a member having a conical recess for supporting the end of said bar, and means to adjust said member to sct the bar for 'movement either concentrically 0r eccentrithe tack pulling device to be..moved' away cally with respect to said shaft. from the stitch forming devices.

16. A sewing machine having in .combi nation, stitch forming devices, a tack pull- WILLIAM THOMAS BUOKINGMM R ing device associated therewith, a frame for Witnesses: i supporting said tack pulling device, and. FREDERICK WILLIAM WORTH, means permitting the frame together With CECIL HERBERT CRos's.

@optea of this atent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressinm the "misnomer amt lt'ntnnta,

Washington, D. c." 1 

